*Geek Boy*
Catherine and I were late for Friday night's game. As my fingers tapped impatiently on the car's dashboard, I bit back the temptation to blame Cath.
My eyes scoured the road, skimming hastily over the traffic that stood in my way. The street was jam-packed. It felt almost like a sign: I wasn't meant to be with Ellie.
My mind ran through what had happened at the start of the week. Ellie had asked me to come to the game. She had asked me to watch her cheer. She'd actually taken to time to speak to me.
And, according to the dashboard, I was late.
I'd gotten off early from my extra classes in order to make it here. I'd even asked to be excused for the day from my work at the orphanage.
All so I could see Ellie.
I might have been on time if it wasn't for Catherine taking extra long to get ready.
I sighed. "We're late."
Catherine glanced up from where she'd been staring at her phone. She made a face. "Why do you want to go to the game anyway? It's like a minefield for groupies and fakes. You've never really cared about it before."
It was also the place where I would see Ellie in her element. The place she'd invited me too.
It was special.
I shrugged.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Catherine raise an eyebrow.
I sighed again as the cars in front of me crawled languidly forward. Internally, I prayed that I wouldn't miss the cheer. Because I couldn't. I just couldn't.
Catherine frowned. "Can you stop tapping? It's really irritating."
I exhaled as I pressed my hand to the dashboard.
"So," Catherine said, glancing up from her phone. "Aren't you excited for the Mathematician's camp? It's only a couple months away." She laughed. "It would be a relief to get away from those stupid cheerleaders and jocks. Two weeks away from those barbie dolls will help regain our sanity."
I bit my lip. "They're not stupid."
Catherine shot me a sceptical glance.
In the resultant silence, I stared out at the road, huffing at the stillness of the crowded cars.
I leaned back into my chair, hoping I'd get there in time.
*
It was 8:30--halfway through the game--by the time we pulled up into the parking lot. Hastily, I turned off the engine and jumped out of the car.
My gaze was locked on the school stadium's external, the red metal coating (imprinted with the names of all our school teams) glinting beneath the dull yellow street lamps. The sound of screaming spilled out from the building as the announcer's voice spoke through the microphone:
"Presenting The Tiger Cheerleaders! Let's hear them roar boys and girls!"
I nearly sprinted into the stadium. Catherine grunted, calling after me as she attempted to catch up.
Ellie was the first thing I saw when I came in. My limbs froze, muscles locking into place within the shadow of the entry as my gaze fell on her.
She floated onto the field, golden ponytail swaying in the wind while her lean legs glided forward. The cheerleading uniform--consisting of a red and black top and miniskirt--went perfectly with her tanned skin, clinging to her flawless figure. She bit down on her glossed lips.
She was beautiful.
It must have been barely noticeable to others but I saw it; I watched as her beautiful cerulean blue eyes ran over the crowd, as if she were searching for something--someone. I watched the slight downturn of her lips as her eyes glazed over. I watched the glimmer in her gaze fade away.
And it was in that second that what she'd said last Saturday ricocheted through my mind, making my entire frame stiffen.
Oh, Will, my hero.
I'd avoided thinking about those words since Saturday. Despite my mind's constant return to that one phrase, I couldn't comprehend it. The concept of what it meant, what it could mean, was too much.
Could she be searching the crowd for me?
Could it...could she...could she feel the same way?
For a moment, it was like I was breathless. An unfamiliar sensation ran up my fingers, racing through my entire body.
The possibility, the one possibility I had never considered, sent chills and heat down my spine simultaneously.
Catherine caught up, panting. "Why'd you do that?"
Simultaneously, Ellie shut her eyes for the shortest moment. When she opened them again, a smile was pasted on her face, but, somehow, it didn't feel genuine. She lifted an arm into the air. "Are you guys ready?"
The crowd screamed in return.
"I don't know," I murmured.
Catherine frowned. "What?"
I didn't take my eyes off Ellie as I made my way up the bleachers. I couldn't peel them away from her perfect frame.
Ellie as a cheerleader was amazing.
Every movement she made was precise and faultless. There was not the slightest mistake. I watched every single move and wondered how it was possible for someone to be so talented.
As I shuffled towards a pair of seats near the back, I watched her do a backwards somersault perfectly before leaping to her feet.
And our gazes met at that moment.
Her perfect eyes locked with mine. Even from here I could see the glimmer that lit her gaze, the smile that only grew larger.
She was so perfect.
If possible, her movements got more energetic. Every dance move and every stunt were even more flawless. Her cheers carried to the entire crowd and I found myself smiling in response.
I watched as she drew back, disappearing behind the other girls. Silence fell on the crowd as the girls bent over. Behind the first set, two girls held their palms out, horizontal above the ground. Ellie leaped up onto their hands, allowing them to toss her into the air. Mid-air, her body twisted fluidly.
My breath quickened.
And she landed. Ellie's feet landed on the hands of Gemma Henderson and Chelsea Simmons, who lifted her up.
Relief poured through me.
The crowd screamed.
Her eyes met mine again. This time, they didn't just glimmer. They were iridescent and it seemed like, for a moment, everything was dark except for her.
She glowed like the sun.
That moment, to see the happiness in her gaze, the satisfaction in her eyes, it was perfect.
And then it happened.
It was so small that I almost missed it. Chelsea Simmon's hands moved just the barest inch, causing the slightest imbalance.
And she fell.
***
For a second I was frozen, unable to move as I attempted to comprehend what had just happened.
Cacophony filled the crowd as the cheerleaders surrounded their captain. My heart beat stopped.
No way. No way. No way.
There was no way she could be hurt. It wasn't possible.
Those few seconds were the longest of my life.
Then the girls stood.
The girls helped to lift Ellie off the floor. She shone a smile at the crowd, as if reassuring them that she was OK.
But I knew she was faking.
Ellie's gaze flickered to me, then she quickly turned away.
Ellie waved the girls away before turning to walk off the field. My eyes tracked her as she exited through a side door in the stadium.
Some of her friends looked ready to go after her but then the coach strode onto the field, pointing in the direction of the changing rooms.
She turned back to the crowd. "She's fine," she yelled. "It was simply a mishap with the stunt. We'll be continuing the game shortly."
Then she headed off the field.
Ellie is fine.
The words echoed in my head, attempting to comfort me.
But it was too late, I was already running.
***
Hey guys, I've decided to enter the watty awards, so please vote on the chapters, and please share BATGB with other readers.
Today's dedication is for the person who tipped the scales so BATGB could reach 500 votes :) Thank you and thank all of you for reading.
God bless
xxx
Yemi Everest